Connect

Take a few minutes, before diving into the message, to go around the room (or virtual room, if you’re meeting online), and share how you’re doing/how your week has been in light of everything that is currently happening and changing in our community.

What has been most stressful or discouraging for you/your family as of late? Share honestly with the group.

Now, consider together how you’ve seen God at work in the midst of everything going on. Then take a moment to give thanks together - whether bowed in prayer or by simply speaking thanks and praise out loud to the Lord.

Engage

As we begin this conversation around politics, let’s carry these words with us:

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; for without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

As Scotty began by sharing his own past experiences about growing up with preconceived ideas and assumptions regarding his understanding of the terms “republican” and “democrat” - could you relate to what he was saying? Why or why not?

From your own personal experience, would you say that Christians are too political or not politically minded enough. Where do you and/or your family currently live on that spectrum? Kindly share your thoughts with the group.

Read Proverbs 31:8-9. How does this verse highlight the importance of politics as well as our responsibility, as believers, to help those in need?

Consider two of Jesus’ disciples: Matthew, a tax collector, and Judas, a zealot/political extremist, who both served, loved, and followed Jesus together.

Do you think that these two men, in light of their very different backgrounds and beliefs, found it difficult to serve alongside Jesus together? Now, talk about how their differences might have greatly benefited Jesus’ ministry in terms of widening their diversity in reaching people with the message of Jesus.

What might we practically glean from these two men, knowing that Jesus called and loved them both, regardless of their differences?

Scotty said, “Our political loyalties don’t just impact how we vote. They impact how we see other people, how we treat other people, and how we talk about other people…From God’s perspective, your real vote doesn’t happen every four years with your ballot, it happens every day with your actions. Politics matter to God because people matter to God.”

With those words in mind, slowly read through 1 Timothy 2:1-4 together. How then are we, as followers of Jesus, called to live in light of these words?

Challenge

If politics matter to God, then should they matter to us.

Not all of us are called to serve in politics but we are called to care, to engage, to vote our conscience, to advocate for what we believe is right, and mostly, to pray for those who have been chosen to serve and govern our community, city, or country.

So what might this practically look like for you/your family?

Maybe for some, the first step is simply aiming to get more informed and involved, to actually start caring.

Maybe for others, it’s committing to be more faithful in your prayers for those in leadership.

Maybe there’s something specific that has been on your heart for a while, that you’ve yet to get involved in for whatever reason, but that you care about and could aid in bringing about change.

Our political life and involvement will not all look the same but may we encourage one another to actively make this a part of our life and faith, together.

Pray

Take a few minutes before ending your time together, to pray for the leaders in your community, city, and beyond - especially in light of everything going on with the Coronavirus. Pray that God might use this increasingly stressful time to bring many souls to Himself.

Daily Deep Dives

Monday

Pause sometime today to make a list (on paper, on your phone, tell someone) of things you can find to be grateful for. It can be good health, a warm home, a good cup of coffee–anything that gets your eyes focused on how you’ve been blessed. A posture of gratitude toward God and the ways He’s loved you is always a great place to start. Things in the news or in our world might be uncertain or shakey, but God is our “Rock and our Salvation” Psalm 19:14. In our home, there’s a little wooden sign that reads, “Not to spoil the ending for you, but everything will be ok”. With God, everything is ok–even if it doesn’t feel like it. Pray words of thanksgiving to Him today.

Tuesday

Have you ever had a broken bone or know someone who has? Typically the doctors x-ray it, make sure the bones are in the right places, and then cast it. But what if the bones aren’t in the right places? They then have to fix it. They have to make sure the bones are where they are supposed to be so they will heal well. And sometimes that comes with a bit of pain first.

In the same way, we need to make things right so we can heal. We need to make things right with those we disagree with, with those we’re frustrated by, with those who annoy us. And then, only then, can we begin to see the healing take place. What if we pursued peace about politics so that we could be together for our communities? Where would you need to start?

Wednesday

Hebrews 12:14 encourages us to pursue peace with others. This verse is placed within a section where we’re to look at who Jesus is and how we respond to that. How does knowing Jesus influence how you respond to others? What can you do this week to create unity in conversations you have? Verse 14 points back to Hebrews 12:11; read it and consider how it furthers you to take an action step this week.

Thursday

Read John 17:20-23. The chapters of John 13-17 are all one scene where Jesus gives some final instructions to his disciples during the Last Supper. The verses we just read are some of the last he speaks before he is arrested. Jesus chooses this time and place to repeat his request for unity three times. The emphasis he places behind unity is incredible! Throughout the gospel of John we see the push to unity not just for ourselves but for the world. That the world will know more of who Jesus is because of our unity, because of our love in action. Who do you disagree with politically? What do you appreciate about them (and their faith)? How can you pursue complete unity so the world knows your love for Jesus?

Friday

Pray this with us: Father, may we be united in You. May we be a people who are captured by Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, surrendered to your Word, alive with the reality of joy, and steadied by Your presence of peace. May we be known as people who follow You and love others well. May we give grace and live grace so that others might experience the joy of knowing You. Amen.

Saturday

During the message this past Sunday, Scotty said, “our lives speak louder than our vote.” How does your life speak louder than your vote? Take some time to talk as a family or with a handful of friends and consider how you might tangibly be “Together For” the community around you. Visit TogetherFor for some ideas to get you started.